The Cabinet has approved the appointment of a committee comprising officials from several ministries to draft laws to enable Sri Lankans to vote while abroad.
Under the current election laws, there is no mechanism or law for overseas citizens to vote, and the government has drawn attention to the fact that many Asian countries such as India and Bangladesh have legal mechanisms in place to allow their overseas citizens to vote.
The government says that this step has been taken as it has been recognized as a timely need to make similar legal amendments for Sri Lankans.
Accordingly, the government is preparing to amend the existing laws or formulate new laws.
A committee consisting of officials from the Election Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and other relevant ministries and institutions is to be appointed to study the relevant laws and regulations.
